Mail-bag-catching device



N ov. 9, 1926.

C. STETLER vMAIL BAG GATCHING DEVICE Filed August 17. 1925 5Sheets-Sheet l IIJ" Charles Shatter` INVENTDR Nov. 9 l1926. 1,606,604C.STETLER MAIL BAG CATCHING DEVICE Filed August 17, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet2 V-F'l'.2. 70 q (y y(Z'havrtes Stetlen 4? 6 111:11, INVENTDR Avrov RNEVNov. 9, 1926.

1,606,604 C. STETLER MAILBAG CATCHING DEVICE Filed August 17 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 5 i t /7 @u Charles Steler' BY I .wm

v ATI'DRNEY Patented Nov.V 9, 1926.

ttete CHARLES STETLER, OF CLARK SUMMIT, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG-CATCI-ILNG DEVICE.

Application filed August 17, 1925. Serial No, 50,753.

'lhe object ot this invention is to provide improved means forsupporting a mail bag above a track, in such manner that the bag will bereleased upon engagement by c a lever operated member adapted to beswung upwardly from the root' of a mail car, as the latter approaches astation.

i further object is to provide a supporting device comprising a verticalelement i2" and a crossl bar rotatably connected with the lower endthereof, this bar having pivotally connected with its ends two dependingarms which detachably support a horizontal strip holding the mail sack,and from which it is released by contact oi' the aforesaid leveroperated member carried by the car.

lilith the Jforegoing and other objects in view, the invention consistsin the novel construction and arrangement ot elements described,illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modiiications may bemade within the scope oi the claims without departing from the spiritot' the invention.

ln the drawings forming part or" this application,

Figure l shows an arch-like structure to be erected over the track atthe point where the mail is to be picked up by moving trains, this viewalso showing the car carried catching device, all in elevation;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same structure g Figure 3 is avertical section, on line 3-3 oiI Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in vertical section and elevation, showing the bagsupporting means mounted on the upper portion of the arch oi' Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in section and elevation, showing the bag supportingmeans per se, and in the position assumed when the bag is beingreleased;

Figure 7 shows the structure ot Figure 6, when looking from the right inthat view;

Figure 8 shows the lower apertured bar ot Figures 5 and 6, designed toreceive a ring member by means of which the bag is suspended with ashort rope.

In Figure 1 the track structure including the rails is designated 10,and a car body is shown conventionally and is designated 11. Columns 12and 13, on opposite sides of the track, support upper parallel girdersor bars 14 andl, Figures 1 and 2, thus completing the structure, 'whichfor convenience may be termed an arch. i i

On' the upper portion ot the arch a ver tical tubular member 16 ismounted, this element being covered by a guard 17 providing a smallhousing 18 for pulley `wheel 18 'for guiding rope l() which passes toone of the side columns and over pulley 20, vand thence downwardly to asecuring device 21. V7ithin tube 16 is a bar 23, connected with the cordor rope 19, the bar being accurately guided within the tube, so that thebag will retain proper position centrally of the track.

A cross bar 24 is swiveled or rotatably connected on the lower end otbar 23 includes ears 24 for mounting depending pivoted bars 25, 26, eachaperturcd at 2i for supporting the ends ot lower cross bar 28. Thelatter suspends the mail sack by means of cord and ring member or loop31. The bag may swing about the pivotal point 23, but the car carrieddevice referred to below, will bring it to the position ot' Figure 6,owing to contact of ring member 3l with depending bar 25 or 26 of theframe.

Since bar 28 must be kept from falling, I provide cords or chains 34,35, secured at 36, and having their lower portions passing throughapertures 27, and thence to pins 37 entering apertures or slots 38 inbar 28. After the bag takes the position ot Figure 6, strain on chain 34releases one pin 37, but bar 28 is held by the other chain. Vertical bar23 may then be drawn upwardly by rope 19. In Figure 6 the left end otthe bar 28 having been released, all of the strain is on the left pin37, and this tends to free itself and release tbe bag, and as there isno further strain on the bar 23 the latter would usually be retained bytrictional engagement with the walls of the aperture 27 at the right.However the temporary loss ot' the bar 28 under unusual circumstances isnot of great importance, as it costs little, and may often be recovered,

but the replacing of the bar is a simple matter, assuming that extrabars are on hand.

The car carried device includes rack 40` shown especially in Figures 3and 4, and comprising a 'frame 'formed of curved bars suitablyconnected, and carried by rotatable rod 42 mounted in bearing brackets43 within the car and below the root thereof, The root 43 has an opening44 closed by a trap door 45 hinged or pivoted at 46,

and the door ishlii'ted when hand lever 47 swings the frame or rack 40for throwing it to operative position. In this position the sack isdirectly caught, as indicated in Figure l, and drops into the car atonce, or as the result of the operation of lever et.

A mail car using this device will be equipped with two swinging frames,to permit or operation in both directions, and the apparatus isespecially designed to permit ot' use t'or picking up mail by airplanesin flight, it being understood that much greater space within the archwould be provided.

wWhat is claimed isl. A. mail bag supporting device, comprising a trackbridging structure, a verticl 'tubular element carried thereby, a rodtelescoping with the tubular element, a cross bar swiveled to the rod,depending arms pivoted to the cross bar, in spaced relation, and adetachable bar passing loosely through end portions ot' the dependingarms.

2. A mail bag supporting device, comprising a vertical element, a crossbar having rotatable connection therewith, depending arms pivoted to thecross bar, a detachable bar loosely connected with the depending arms,and ieXible devices inpendent ot the arms and of greater length,

these devices being connected with the cross bar and removably connectedwith the detachable bar and separable therefrom under strain.

3. A mail bag supporting device, co1nprising a vertical element, a crossbar swiveled thereto, depending arms pivoted to the ends of the crossbar, and movable outwardly from a vertical position, the lower ends ofthe arms being apertured, a lower bar having its ends entering theapertures, and a ring member through which the lower bar passes, thering` member being adapted to support a bag.

4. A mail bag supporting device, comprising a vertical element, a crossbar piv oted thereto, depending arms pivoted to the ends or the crossbar and movable outwardly from a vertical position, the lower ends ofthe arms being apertured, a lower bar having its ends entering theapertures, a ring member through which the lower bar passes, the ringmember being adapted to support a. sack, and flexible devices connectedwith theV cross bar and with' said lower bar. y

In testimony whereof l atiix my signature. i

CHARLES STETLER.

